Python Foundations
to Professional

Progressive learning path

Five skill levels after setup. Each level ends with a capstone you can show an employer.

1. 0

   Pre-Course

   Before Week 10/1

   Get Python, an editor and the terminal working before you write real code.

   PRERequirements & SetupBefore Week 1
2. 1

   Foundation

   Weeks 1–20/4

   Variables, control flow, loops and functions — the core grammar of Python.

   M01Python BasicsWeeks 1–2M02Control FlowWeeks 1–2M03LoopsWeeks 1–2M04FunctionsWeeks 1–2

   Capstone — Personal Profile Script

   Build a Personal Profile Script: takes user input (name, age, location, interests), validates it (realistic age, non-empty fields) using control flow, and displays a formatted profile — combining variables, conditionals, loops and functions.

3. 2

   Beginner

   Weeks 3–40/3

   Collections, files on disk and your first classes and objects.

   M05Data StructuresWeeks 3–4M06File HandlingWeeks 3–4M07Introduction to Object-Oriented ProgrammingWeeks 3–4

   Capstone — Contact Manager App

   Build a Contact Manager App: stores contacts using a class, saves/loads them from a file, and lets the user add, view and delete contacts via a menu-driven loop.

4. 3

   Intermediate

   Weeks 5–70/3

   Resilient code, external APIs and multi-file applications.

   M08Error Handling & DebuggingWeeks 5–7M09Working with APIsWeeks 5–7M10Building Small ApplicationsWeeks 5–7

   Capstone — Weather / Currency Dashboard

   Build a Weather/Currency Dashboard App: fetches live data from an API, handles errors gracefully, and presents results through a clean, modular program structure.

5. 4

   Advanced

   Weeks 8–90/2

   Databases, SQL and professional-quality, maintainable code.

   M11Working with DatabasesWeeks 8–9M12Code Optimization & Design PatternsWeeks 8–9

   Capstone — Inventory / Repair Tracker (DB-backed)

   Build a Database-Backed Inventory/Repair Tracker App: stores structured records in SQLite, supports full CRUD operations, and follows clean code standards — directly relevant to Next Door Tech's repair business context.

6. 5

   Professional

   Weeks 10–120/3

   Project lifecycle, Git, code review, documentation and deployment.

   M13Real-World Project DevelopmentWeeks 10–12M14Code Review & CollaborationWeeks 10–12M15Deployment & Final ProjectWeeks 10–12

   Capstone — Original Deployed Application

   Design, build, document, version-control and deploy an original Python application of your choice — demonstrating mastery across all five levels. Reviewed against a professional-standard rubric (functionality, code quality, documentation, presentation).